THE family of an Essex woman who was killed by a dangerous driver are supporting national Organ Donation Week, September 22 to 28.
Abigail Harvey from Basildon saved six lives after her family donated her organs when she died aged 21 after being hit by lorry.
She was driving to work when she died in November 2017. The lorry driver was later convicted of causing by death by dangerous driving.
Abigail and her family had previously talked about their support for donation over the dinner table and her mum agreed to support donation.
Mum Mandie Harvey, 50, a health care assistant from Corringham in Essex, said: “Abi was an office clerk. She had a partner of six years and they were just starting to look for a house and fly the nest. It was the week before she was due to go on her dream holiday to Thailand. She had packed her suitcase and got her passport ready.
“She loved walking and wherever there was water – she was off. I have a million pictures of her on a beach with her shoes in hands. She enjoyed the outdoors and cheeky glass of wine or gin.
“In the hospital, I brought up organ donation. All the family were in agreement that if they need it, they can have it. We’d had a passing conversation about donation over the dinner table and Abi said she would donate.
“The organ donation nurse took handprints and locks of her hair, all the stuff you would never think of because you feel like rabbit in the headlights. I am filled with awe at how hard the organ donation nurses work and the job they do.”
Abi’s lungs went to a woman in her 50s, her heart went to a woman in her 50s, her liver was split between a lady in their 20s and a baby girl, one kidney went to a lady in her 30s, and her pancreas and the other kidney went to a man in his 30s.
“The letter about where her donation went arrived the day before the funeral, it was amazing because I could read that out,” said Mandie.
“I am absolutely, 100% glad that we agreed with donation. If you can save somebody’s life, why wouldn’t you? If it was your family member that needed an organ you’d want other people to donate. For me it was an easy decision. I try and promote anything to do with organ donation and how proud I am of Abi every day.”
More than 12,000 people in the UK have died or been removed from the transplant waiting list over the past ten years before receiving the lifesaving organs they desperately needed – including 359 in the East of England.
Figures released by NHS Blood and Transplant to mark Organ Donation Week show that 4,900 people died while actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and a further 7,700 were removed from the active list after being deemed too sick to receive one, with many dying soon after – highlighting the urgent need to increase organ donation registrations.
In the East of England, in the last 10 years, 46 people from Bedfordshire, 48 people from Cambridgeshire, 98 people from Essex, 81 people from Hertfordshire, 40 people from Norfolk, and 30 people from Suffolk, have died or been removed from the transplant waiting list without getting a transplant. A further 16 were from the East but had varying home counties.
Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “It’s really concerning to see the numbers of people waiting for a transplant slowly rising and people are dying needlessly every day because of the shortage of organs for transplant. We really need people who want to be a donor after they die to make it clear to their families and encourage them to support that decision.
“Last year, 90% of families honoured their loved one’s decision to become a donor when they had recorded their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which made those conversations with families so much easier. People are far more likely to support donation when they know it’s what their relative wanted.
“I would urge everyone in the East of England who supports organ donation to register their decision and make it clear that it’s what you want should the worst happen. It only takes 2 minutes to register but it could save the lives of people who so desperately need a transplant. Please sign up. It’s the best thing you’ll do today.”
To find out more, and confirm your support for organ donation, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app.
